564 



Transactions. — Geology. 



in the flat areas between the temporal and lambdoidal ridges. 

 In the curved dorsal margin of the tympanic cavity it differs 

 from both, but this part is much damaged. The mandible 

 more closely resembles that of A. parvus than that of M. casua- 

 rinus ; but it is sHghter and more curved than in A. parvus. 

 The pelvis and sternum, described in my paper on the moa- 

 bones from Kapua,* are also intermediate between Meionornis 

 and Anomalornis, but, as the pelvis, the leg-bones, and the 

 mandible approach more nearly to the latter genus, I think 

 the species has been rightly named. Too much importance 

 appears to have been attached to the spread of the temporal 

 ridges over the cranial roof, which is of specific value at 

 most. If, however, it is thought to be generically distinct 

 from both, it may take the name of Palapteryx. 



The dimensions of the leg-bones which I believe to belong 

 to this skull are as follow : — 



These measurements are much the same as those of the 

 large form of A. parvus found in caves, and, indeed, I cannot 

 distinguish the metatarsi of the two species, but the femur in 

 A. fortis has the popliteal depression deeper, and the tibia is 

 easily recognised by its not having the distal inward dilatation 

 in the neighbourhood of the flexor bridge which makes the 

 tibia of A. parvus look something like that of Pachyornis. 



Aet. LIII. — On Alterations in the Coast-line of the North 

 Island of New Zealand. 



By C. F. Maxwell. 



[Read before the Auckland Institute, 19th July, 1896.] 



Being in the habit of doing a considerable amount of travelhng 

 along both the east and west coasts north of Auckland, I ob- 

 served certain changes which are taking place in the configura- 

 tion of the coast-hne, these alterations being more particularly 



• Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxviii., p.. 639, 640. 



